Garden City is located in east Georgia, about five miles north of downtown Savannah. Highway 17 runs just south of Garden City, crossing through northwestern Savannah and over the state line into South Carolina. When visiting Garden City, visitors can select among many hotels located just off the highway and within a 10-minute drive of town. As an added benefit, the hotels put you in close proximity of Savannah's historic district, one of the area's more popular places to visit.

On West Oglethrope Avenue

Upon entering Georgia via Highway 17, the first exit leads onto West Oglethorpe Avenue. Within a few blocks of exiting 17, visitors find two accommodations options: the Thunderbird Inn (thethunderbirdinn.com) and the Inn at Ellis Square (innatellissquare.com). The Thunderbird has standard guest rooms and suites, all steeped in nostalgic decor and featuring refrigerators and high-speed Internet access. The Inn at Ellis Square is housed in one of Savannah's older buildings, known as the Grand Lady and built in 1851. The hotel features standard guest rooms and suites. All rooms have free wireless Internet access and suites feature refrigerators and microwaves.

Off Louisville Road

After Oglethorpe, the next exit off 17 leads to Louisville Road, where two Marriott-owned hotels can be found: the Courtyard (marriott.com) Savannah Downtown/Historic District and the Residence Inn (marriott.com) Savannah Downtown/Historic District. Both offer transportation into the heart of historic Savannah, free breakfast and free high-speed Internet access. Both hotels feature on-site lounges, fitness centers and outdoor pools and whirlpools. The Courtyard also has 1,500 square feet of meeting space and suites as well as standard guest rooms, some with whirlpools or sofa beds. The Residence Inn is designed for longer stays, so all of the rooms are suites. Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts are all available. Some have full kitchens.

Downtown

Though Savannah's historic downtown area is located at the northernmost edge of the city, along the waterfront and the South Carolina border, visitors can only access downtown via the West Oglethorpe or Louisville exits, making it a slightly longer trek from the highway. Should you decide to stay at one of the many downtown hotels located on Bay Street, expect a quick drive into Garden City, as West Bay leads directly into Garden City's Main Street. Among the many options available, the Best Western Plus Savannah Historic District (bestwestern.com) is a pet-friendly option with all the standard amenities, from high-speed Internet access and a free breakfast to a swimming pool. For something more luxurious, The Bohemian Hotel (bohemianhotelsavannah.com) combines modern conveniences with 18th-century decor, providing premium details and services, such as plush bathrobes and on-site restaurants.

On Ogeechee Road

Should you prefer to stay on the south side of town, Highway 17 continues southwest past downtown Savannah, briefly merging with Interstate 16 and I-516 before continuing southwest as Ogeechee Road. Along Ogeechee, hotel options include the Americas Best Value Inn (americasbestvalueinn.com) Savannah and the Guest House (guesthousesavannah.com). At the Americas Best Value Inn, all rooms have high-speed Internet access, microwaves and refrigerators. At the Guest House, all suite-style rooms feature kitchenettes.

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About the Author

Danielle Hill has been writing, editing and translating since 2005. She has contributed to "Globe Pequot" Barcelona travel guide, "Gulfshore Business Magazine," "Connecting Lines: New Poetry from Mexico" and "The Barcelona Review." She has trained in neuro-linguistic programming and holds a Bachelor of Arts in comparative literature and literary translation from Brown University.

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